Systems and methods for resuming playback on a next available active device

ABSTRACT

Systems and methods are provided for automatically cueing content for playback on a second device after it is paused or stopped on a first device. A content direction device is in electronic communication with user devices and content providers. This content direction device directs streamed content from the content providers to the various user devices. When a user pauses or stops playback at a first device, the content direction device stops the stream. Later, when the user activates a second device, the content direction device detects the second device and directs the content provider to resume the stream, whereupon it is transmitted to the second device. In this manner, the user can pause or stop playback on one device, later activate another device, and automatically receive a cued stream of the previously paused/stopped content. No user input is required to open an application or window, or to re-select content.

BACKGROUND

The wide availability of digital content has given users many avenuesfor consuming electronic content. As one example, centralized contentplayback services such as Netflix® and YouTube® allow consumers toselect from and play back content from among large libraries of content.Often, content may also be provided from local storage sources, such aslocal hard drives.

SUMMARY

The availability of such content, and the large number of electronicdevices available for its playback, mean that consumers may select andplay desired content on several different screens. This allows usersgreat flexibility in when and where they may view their content. Forexample, contemporary users can select desired content from a centralservice and watch different parts of it on different devices atdifferent times. In particular, users may pause or stop content playbackon one device, and resume it on a different device at a later time.

Limitations to this process still exist, however. Playback applicationinterfaces still require users to visit the central service (e.g.,through an application program), sign in, re-select the particularcontent they wish played back, and wait until playback begins. This canbe an excessively long process that can lead to user frustration.

Accordingly, to overcome the problems and limitations of such servicesand their interfaces, systems and methods are described herein thatautomatically cue content on devices as they become available forplayback. More specifically, a content direction device is placedbetween content consumption devices and content sources such asproviders or locally stored content. The content consumption deviceitself may store this locally stored content. To the content providers,the content direction device appears effectively as a single contentconsumption device, receiving streamed content from content providers.The content direction device directs this content stream to a device theuser activates, and receives and relays commands such as pause/stopcommands. When the user device becomes active and able to receive astream, the content direction device automatically either directs thecontent provider to resume the stream or resumes the stream from a localsource, whereupon it is transmitted to the next device. In this manner,the user can pause or stop playback on one device, later activateanother device, and automatically receive a cued stream of thepreviously paused/stopped content. No user input is required to open anapplication or window, or to re-select content. The later device can be,for example, the next device the user activates.

Content is transmitted from a content provider or local source to thecontent direction device, rather than directly to user devices. Thecontent direction device forwards the content stream to user devices.Similarly, commands from the user devices are sent to the contentdirection device and are passed on to the content provider if necessary.Thus, when a user pauses or stops content playback on a first device,the content direction device receives a pause or stop command marking aconsumption endpoint reached by the user. The content direction devicethen directs the content provider to pause or stop streaming of content.

Later, when the user seeks to resume playback on a different device, heor she may activate this different device, whereupon it transitions froma state in which it is unable to receive content, to a state in which itis able to receive content. For example, the device is turned on, bootsup, and attaches to a local area network. The content direction devicethen detects the presence of this new user device on the local areanetwork, or the user device transmits an indication to the contentdirection device that it is now active and able to receive contentstreams. In response, the content direction device instructs the contentprovider or local source to resume the content stream from the previousconsumption endpoint, to extend sequentially to its end. The stream isthen transmitted to the content direction device, where it is forwardedto the user device and cued there for playback by the user. Thus, usersneed simply to turn on a different device, and their content isautomatically cued for playback.

The content direction device may optionally seek to close the currentsession at the content provider. For example, if a user issues a stopcommand and powers off his playback device, content providers may closethe current session. Thus, in situations when the session should beclosed, the content direction device may transmit a close sessioncommand to the content provider, to close the content provider's currentstreaming session. In this case, receiving an indication that adifferent device has been activated prompts the content direction deviceto transmit a resume session command to the content provider, to resumethe content consumption session and continue streaming the content. Oncethe new stream is received, the content direction device thenautomatically directs the stream to the now-active user device.

The content direction device may alternatively not close the contentprovider's current session. As one example, if users attempt to resumeplayback at a different device very soon after shutting down theirprevious device, or after pausing rather than stopping content on theprevious device, content providers may simply keep the same sessionopen, and resume streaming from the same session. In this case, contentstreamed to the content direction device, and thus to the new userdevice, is streamed from the same session as before.

The content direction device may also seek to first authenticate newdevices, to verify that they are permitted for content playback.Authentication is optional and need not necessarily be employed. Butwhen employed, users may enter multiple device identifiers to thecontent direction device, corresponding to the list of devices which areallowed to receive content. Later, when the user seeks to resume contentplayback on another device, he or she activates the device, whichtransmits its own unique identifier to the content direction device. Thecontent direction device compares this identifier to the stored list ofdevice identifiers, and if it finds a match, content is streamed fromthe content provider to the new device.

It is known that many contemporary devices may exist in multipledifferent modes or states, including sleep modes, power-off states, andthe like. Thus, for a user device to transition from a state in which itis unable to receive content to a state in which it is able to receivecontent, it may simply be powered on. That is, the aforementionedtransition may simply be a transition from a power-off state to apower-on state. Alternatively, the transition may be a transition from astate in which the device has not coupled to a network, to one in whichit has. This latter case may involve, for example, a waking from a sleepstate. Still further, the transition may be a transition from a state inwhich a content consumption application program has not yet beenautomatically loaded, to one in which it has.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The above and other objects and advantages of the disclosure will beapparent upon consideration of the following detailed description, takenin conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like referencecharacters refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 shows an exemplary system for resuming content playback ondifferent devices, in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustration of the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a generalized embodiment of illustrative content consumptiondevices constructed for use according to embodiments of the disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a generalized embodiment of an illustrative content directiondevice constructed for use according to embodiments of the disclosure;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary content resumptionprocess according to embodiments of the disclosure;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating further details of aspects of theexemplary content resumption process of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating content consumption session closureand resumption within the exemplary content resumption process of FIG.5;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating content consumption device operationwhen cueing content according to embodiments of the disclosure; and

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary device authenticationprocess for use with the content resumption process of FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In one embodiment, the disclosure relates to a method of reducing usereffort and wait time when resuming content playback on a differentdevice. Content is automatically cued on the next device that becomesavailable for playback, without need for the user to open any windows,select any applications, or the like. As one example, a user may chooseto watch an episode of a show on Netflix®, on the television (TV) in hishome. The user may pause or stop playback of the episode, and perhapsshut off the TV. Sometime later, the user may turn on another contentplayback device, such as a laptop or phone, whereupon the episode isautomatically cued on that device for immediate playback from the pointat which the content was last paused or stopped. In this manner,resumption of content playback is shorter and easier, leading to lessuser frustration and greater content engagement.

FIG. 1 shows an exemplary system for resuming content playback ondifferent devices, in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure.System 100 includes a first content consumption device 110, a contentdirection device 120, and a second content consumption device 130. Firstand second content consumption devices 110, 130 communicate with contentdirection device 120, which receives and forwards content streamed fromcontent provider 140. In other words, content direction device 120receives content from content provider 140 and transmits it on to thecontent consumption device 110, 130 currently used by a user.

In operation of system 100, a user may be watching, for example, aNetflix® show on first content consumption device 110, which may be hishome TV. The show is streamed from the content provider 140, e.g., aNetflix® server, to content direction device 120, which in turntransmits the stream to the user's home TV. At some point, the user maypause or stop playback, perhaps even turning off the device 110. Thedevice 110 then transmits a consumption endpoint, corresponding to thepoint in the content at which playback was paused/stopped, to thecontent direction device 120, which forwards the consumption endpoint tothe content provider 140 along with a pause/stop command.

Some time later, the user turns on his cellular phone, which may besecond content consumption device 130. When the content direction device120 detects the second content consumption device 130 (as describedfurther below) and determines that it is able to receive streamedcontent, the content direction device 120 instructs the content provider140 to resume streaming the Netflix® show. The resulting stream isreceived and routed to the second content consumption device 130, wheredevice 130 automatically cues it for playback. In this manner, the usermay pause or stop content playback on a first content consumption device110 and resume it later at a second content consumption device 130.Content is automatically cued at content consumption device 130 when thedevice is turned on and becomes able to receive a content stream, thuspresenting content to the user faster, reducing wait time, andeliminating the need for the user to manually open applications orselect content.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram representation of the system of FIG. 1,presented for further illustration. Any number of content consumptiondevices 110 and 130 may be in communication with content directiondevice 120 through, for example, a local area network 200. The contentdirection device 120 is in electronic communication with contentprovider 140 through communications network 210. As one example, thecontent consumption devices 110 and 130, local area network 200, andcontent direction device 120 may all be situated within a local area,e.g., within various rooms of a home or office. The content provider 140may be a remotely located server at a content provider site, and thecommunications network 210 may be the public Internet. Alternatively,the content provider 140 may be situated within the local area and maybe, for example, a local content storage and streaming application on alocal computer including any of the above computing devices, or even astorage and application within the content direction device 120 itself.

As above, a user may be watching a show on first content consumptiondevice 110, at which point the content provider 140 is providing astream of the show through communications network 210 to contentdirection device 120. The content direction device 120 in turn receivesthis stream and directs it to device 110 over local area network 200.When the user pauses or stops playback, a pause/stop command is issuedback through local area network 200 to content direction device 120,where it is forwarded to content provider 140 (through communicationsnetwork 210). A consumption endpoint, indicating the point at whichplayback was halted, may be issued along with the stop/pause command.

Later, when the user activates another device such as one of the contentconsumption devices 130, the content direction device 120 detects thatdevice 130 has coupled to the local area network 200 and automaticallysends a resume command to content provider 140 via communicationsnetwork 210. Content provider 140 resumes the stream from the previousconsumption endpoint, transmitting it to content direction device 120.The content direction device 120 then transmits the stream to device130, which cues it for playback to the user.

The content consumption devices 110, 130 may be any devices capable ofreceiving streamed content and executing playback for users. Forexample, content consumption devices 110, 130 may be digital TVs, laptopcomputers, smartphones, tablet computers, or the like. FIG. 3 shows ageneralized embodiment of an illustrative user equipment device 300 thatmay serve as a content consumption device. User equipment device 300 mayreceive content and data via input/output (hereinafter “I/O”) path 302.I/O path 302 may provide content (e.g., broadcast programming, on-demandprogramming, Internet content, content available over a local areanetwork (LAN) or wide area network (WAN), and/or other content) and datato control circuitry 304, which includes processing circuitry 306 andstorage 308. Control circuitry 304 may be used to send and receivecommands, requests, and other suitable data using I/O path 302. I/O path302 may connect control circuitry 304 (and specifically processingcircuitry 306) to one or more communications paths (described below).I/O functions may be provided by one or more of these communicationspaths, but are shown as a single path in FIG. 3 to avoidovercomplicating the drawing.

Control circuitry 304 may be based on any suitable processing circuitrysuch as processing circuitry 306. As referred to herein, processingcircuitry should be understood to mean circuitry based on one or moremicroprocessors, microcontrollers, digital signal processors,programmable logic devices, field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs),application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), etc., and may includea multi-core processor (e.g., dual-core, quad-core, hexa-core, or anysuitable number of cores). In some embodiments, processing circuitry maybe distributed across multiple separate processors or processing units,for example, multiple of the same type of processing units (e.g., twoIntel Core i7 processors) or multiple different processors (e.g., anIntel Core i5 processor and an Intel Core i7 processor). In someembodiments, control circuitry 304 executes instructions for receivingstreamed content and executing playback, such as executing applicationprograms that provide interfaces for content providers 140 to stream anddisplay content.

Control circuitry 304 may thus include communications circuitry suitablefor communicating with a content provider 140 server or other networksor servers. Communications circuitry may include a cable modem, anintegrated services digital network (ISDN) modem, a digital subscriberline (DSL) modem, a telephone modem, Ethernet card, or a wireless modemfor communications with other equipment, or any other suitablecommunications circuitry. Such communications may involve the Internetor any other suitable communications networks or paths. In addition,communications circuitry may include circuitry that enables peer-to-peercommunication of user equipment devices, or communication of userequipment devices in locations remote from each other.

Memory may be an electronic storage device provided as storage 308 thatis part of control circuitry 304. As referred to herein, the phrase“electronic storage device” or “storage device” should be understood tomean any device for storing electronic data, computer software, orfirmware, such as random-access memory, read-only memory, hard drives,optical drives, digital video disc (DVD) recorders, compact disc (CD)recorders, BLU-RAY disc (BD) recorders, BLU-RAY 3D disc recorders,digital video recorders (DVR, sometimes called a personal videorecorder, or PVR), solid state devices, quantum storage devices, gamingconsoles, gaming media, or any other suitable fixed or removable storagedevices, and/or any combination of the same. Storage 308 may be used tostore various types of content described herein as well as mediaguidance data described above. Nonvolatile memory may also be used(e.g., to launch a boot-up routine and other instructions). Cloud-basedstorage may be used to supplement storage 308 or instead of storage 308.

Control circuitry 304 may include video generating circuitry and tuningcircuitry, such as one or more analog tuners, one or more MPEG-2decoders or other digital decoding circuitry, high-definition tuners, orany other suitable tuning or video circuits or combinations of suchcircuits. Encoding circuitry (e.g., for converting over-the-air, analog,or digital signals to MPEG signals for storage) may also be included.Control circuitry 304 may also include scaler circuitry for upconvertingand downconverting content into the preferred output format of the userequipment 300. Circuitry 304 may also include digital-to-analogconverter circuitry and analog-to-digital converter circuitry forconverting between digital and analog signals. The tuning and encodingcircuitry may be used by the user equipment device to receive and todisplay, to play, or to record content. The tuning and encodingcircuitry may also be used to receive guidance data. The circuitrydescribed herein, including for example, the tuning, video generating,encoding, decoding, encrypting, decrypting, scaler, and analog/digitalcircuitry, may be implemented using software running on one or moregeneral purpose or specialized processors. Multiple tuners may beprovided to handle simultaneous tuning functions (e.g., watch and recordfunctions, picture-in-picture (PIP) functions, multiple-tuner recording,etc.). If storage 308 is provided as a separate device from userequipment 300, the tuning and encoding circuitry (including multipletuners) may be associated with storage 308.

A user may send instructions to control circuitry 304 using user inputinterface 310. User input interface 310 may be any suitable userinterface, such as a remote control, mouse, trackball, keypad, keyboard,touch screen, touchpad, stylus input, joystick, voice recognitioninterface, or other user input interfaces. Display 312 may be providedas a stand-alone device or integrated with other elements of userequipment device 300. For example, display 312 may be a touchscreen ortouch-sensitive display. In such circumstances, user input interface 310may be integrated with or combined with display 312. Display 312 may beone or more of a monitor, a television, a liquid crystal display (LCD)for a mobile device, amorphous silicon display, low temperature polysilicon display, electronic ink display, electrophoretic display, activematrix display, electro-wetting display, electrofluidic display, cathoderay tube display, light-emitting diode display, electroluminescentdisplay, plasma display panel, high-performance addressing display,thin-film transistor display, organic light-emitting diode display,surface-conduction electron-emitter display (SED), laser television,carbon nanotubes, quantum dot display, interferometric modulatordisplay, or any other suitable equipment for displaying visual images.In some embodiments, display 312 may be HDTV-capable. In someembodiments, display 312 may be a 3D display, and the interactive mediaguidance application and any suitable content may be displayed in 3D. Avideo card or graphics card may generate the output to the display 312.The video card may offer various functions such as accelerated renderingof 3D scenes and 2D graphics, MPEG-2/MPEG-4 decoding, TV output, or theability to connect multiple monitors. The video card may be anyprocessing circuitry described above in relation to control circuitry304. The video card may be integrated with the control circuitry 304.Speakers 314 may be provided as integrated with other elements of userequipment device 300 or may be stand-alone units. The audio component ofvideos and other content displayed on display 312 may be played throughspeakers 314. In some embodiments, the audio may be distributed to areceiver (not shown), which processes and outputs the audio via speakers314.

FIG. 4 is a generalized embodiment of an illustrative content directiondevice 120 constructed for use according to embodiments of thedisclosure. Here, device 400 may serve as a content direction device.Device 400 may receive content and data via I/O paths 402 and 404. I/Opath 402 may provide content and data to the various content consumptiondevices 110 and 130, while I/O path 404 may provide data to, and receivecontent from, one or more content providers 140. Like the user equipmentdevice 300, the device 400 has control circuitry 406 which includesprocessing circuitry 408 and storage 410. The control circuitry 406,processing circuitry 408, and storage 410 may be constructed, and mayoperate, similar to the respective components of user equipment device300.

Storage 410 is a memory that stores a number of programs for executionby processing circuitry 408. In particular, storage 410 may store anumber of device interfaces 412, content provider interfaces 414, deviceidentifiers 416, and data transfer routines 418. The device interfaces412 are interface programs for handling the exchange of commands anddata with the various content consumption devices 110, 130. Contentprovider interfaces 414 are interface programs for handling the exchangeof commands and content streams with various content providers 140, andare programmed to exchange commands and content similar to acorresponding application program on a content consumption device 110,130. A separate interface 414 may exist for each different contentprovider 140 that has its own format for commands or content. Datatransfer module 418 handles routing of content streams from the contentproviders 140 to the appropriate content consumption devices 110, 130.That is, module 418 contains routines for redirecting content streamsreceived from content providers 140 to specific content consumptiondevices 110, 130. If content is stored within device 400 itself, it maybe stored in storage 410 along with an application program that streamsthe stored content to a destination specified as below.

The device 400 may be any electronic device capable of receiving contentstreams and transferring them to one or more content consumption devices110, 130. For example, the device 400 may be a networked in-home smartdevice connected between a home modem and various content consumptiondevices 110, 130. The device 400 may alternatively be a laptop computeror desktop computer configured as above. As such, one of ordinary skillin the art will recognize that the device 400 may be any one of thecontent consumption devices 110, 130 or some portion thereof.

Operation of the system of FIG. 2 is now described in connection withFIG. 5, which is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary contentresumption process according to embodiments of the disclosure. A usermay be consuming content on consumption device 110. At this point, thecontent provider 140 is streaming the content to content directiondevice 120 through communications network 210, and the content directiondevice 120 is in turn forwarding the stream to device 110 through localarea network 200. The content consumption device 110 may be displayingthe content through an application program loaded from its storage 308.

At some point, the user wishes to pause or stop playback from his device110. The user may, for example, press a pause or stop button on a remotecontrol, or if the device 110 has a touch screen, the user may press apause icon on the screen. The device 110 then transmits a pause/stopcommand to content direction device 120 along with a consumptionendpoint, i.e. the point within the content at which playback washalted. The content direction device 120 receives the command andendpoint (Step 500), and transmits both the pause/stop command and theconsumption endpoint to the content provider 140. In response, thecontent provider 140 halts the stream, and may close the currentsession.

While Step 500 describes receiving a separate consumption endpoint andpause/stop command, it is noted that the pause/stop command may also actas a consumption endpoint. That is, the device 110 may send a singlecommand to pause or stop, and the content direction device 120 maydetermine the consumption endpoint as the point in the content that wasreached when the pause/stop command was received. Alternatively, thecontent direction device 120 may simply receive and relay the pause/stopcommand without any consumption endpoint, and the content provider 140may determine the consumption endpoint itself.

At some later point, the user may wish to resume playback of the contenton a different content consumption device 130, whereupon the user mayactivate device 130 by, e.g., turning it on, waking it from sleep mode,or the like. When the device 130 activates and attaches to local areanetwork 200, the content direction device 120 receives an indicationthat device 130 has attached and is thus able to receive content. Thatis, the content direction device 120 receives an indication that device130 has transitioned from a state in which it was unable to receivecontent over local area network 200, to a state in which it is now ableto receive content (Step 510).

Content direction device 120 may be made aware of device 130 in anynumber of ways. In one embodiment, device 130 may transmit an indicatorto content direction device 120 once it attaches to local area network200. The indicator may be transmitted by an application program once itis automatically loaded, as further described below. Alternatively, thecontent direction device 120 may scan the local area network 200 for newdevices, detecting device 130 when it attaches. Any method of makingcontent direction device 120 aware of the presence of device 130 onlocal area network 200 may be employed.

Once content direction device 120 receives this indication, itautomatically initiates the process of resuming the content stream atthe content consumption device 130, i.e. directing the portion of thecontent beginning at the consumption endpoint, to the contentconsumption device 130 (Step 520). FIG. 6 illustrates further details ofStep 520. In particular, content direction device 120 automaticallyopens or resumes a session with the content provider 140, selects thecontent, transmits the previously-received consumption endpoint to thecontent provider 140 (Step 600) and instructs the content provider 140to begin streaming the content beginning at the consumption endpoint(Step 602). In some embodiments, the content provider 140 retains theconsumption endpoint it received or determined when the user previouslypaused/stopped the content. In this case, Step 600 may be omitted andthe content direction device 120 may simply instruct the contentprovider 140 to resume streaming. In other embodiments, streaming mayresume from a point near but not precisely at the previous endpoint,e.g., a point within a range of several seconds of the consumptionendpoint. Any range is contemplated.

In response to receiving the instruction to resume streaming, thecontent provider 140 transmits the stream through communications network210 to be received at content direction device 120 (Step 620). Thecontent direction device 120 then transmits this received stream tocontent consumption device 130 (Step 630). The content consumptiondevice 130 then cues the streamed content for playback when the userdesires.

As described above in connection with Step 500 of FIG. 5, contentproviders 140 may close paused or stopped sessions. Such closings may beperformed automatically after a predetermined duration of inactivity,for instance. Alternatively, either content consumption device 110 orcontent direction device 120 may instruct the content provider 140 toclose the current session, such as in the case that the contentconsumption device 110 is turned off. In such cases, embodiments of thedisclosure resume sessions when content consumption device 130 becomesavailable for resuming streaming. FIG. 7 illustrates in further detailprocesses undertaken by content direction device 120 in resumingsessions at a content provider 140. In cases where users desire to closetheir current session, the content direction device 120 may transmit aclose session command to content provider 140, to close the currentsession (Step 700). This step may be omitted if the user does not send aclose session command. Instead, the content provider 140 may simplyclose the current session automatically. Alternatively, the contentprovider 140 may be left to close the session itself, for example aftera predetermined period of inactivity.

Content direction device 120 and content provider 140 then wait (Step710) until the content direction device 120 detects that the contentconsumption device 130 has attached to the local area network 200 (Step720), whereupon content direction device 120 automatically transmits aresume session command to the content provider 140 (Step 730). Inresponse, the content provider 140 resumes the session. Contentdirection device 120 selects the interrupted content and instructs thecontent provider 140 to resume the stream from the previous streamingendpoint, whereupon the content provider 140 transmits the stream tocontent direction device 120. The content direction device 120 thenautomatically directs the stream to content consumption device 130 forcueing and playback (Step 740).

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating further details of operation ofcontent consumption device 130 when cueing content according toembodiments of the disclosure. As above, content is automaticallystreamed to content consumption device 130 when it becomes able toreceive content. In further detail, as soon as the user turns on orotherwise activates content consumption device 130 (Step 800), thedevice 130 executes its boot sequence (Step 810). If the device 130 isin sleep mode or some other mode in which it remains powered on butunable to receive or display streamed content, this step may be omitted,and a wake-up or other similar sequence may be performed instead.

The device 130 then automatically loads a content consumptionapplication allowing it to display the streamed content (Step 820). Thisapplication may, for example, be a Netflix® application, or any otherapplication program for playback of content from a particular service.Once the application is loaded, it is programmed to automaticallytransmit an activation indication and device identifier to the contentdirection device 120 (Step 830). This informs the content directiondevice 120 of the presence of device 130 on the local area network 200,and identifies the device 130 for authentication purposes.Authentication is described further below in connection with FIG. 9.

Authentication is optional in the various embodiments of the disclosureand may be omitted. But after authentication (if it is employed), thecontent direction device 120 instructs the content provider 140 toresume streaming the particular content, which is streamed to thecontent direction device 120. The content direction device 120 forwardsthe stream to the loaded application of content consumption device 130,which receives it (Step 840) and cues the content for consumption by theuser. The application may then transmit a pause command to the contentdirection device 120 (Step 850), so that content playback is pausedrather than resumed immediately. This allows the user to resume playbackwhen he or she is ready, rather than being forced to watch resumedcontent immediately upon activating content consumption device 130. Aswith authentication, Step 850 is optional and may be omitted inembodiments in which it is desired to resume playback immediately uponactivation of content consumption device 130.

The optional authentication process is now described in connection withFIG. 9, which is a flowchart illustrating further details of anexemplary such process. It may be desirable to confirm the identity ofdevices 130 that join local area network 200, to ensure that they areauthorized to play back content. For example, certain services may allowplayback only on devices the user has paid for. As another example, theuser may wish to allow playback only on devices he or she owns, and notany other devices that may join local area network 200.

Prior to viewing content, the content direction device 120 may promptthe user to identify those devices that are authorized for contentplayback. The user enters this information, and it is received atcontent direction device 120 (Step 900). The entered information may beunique device identifiers such as internet protocol (IP) addresses,passwords unique to each device, or the like.

At a later time, the user may wish to resume playback on a particulardevice, as above. Accordingly, when content consumption device 130attaches to local area network 200 and transmits its unique identifierto content direction device 120 as in Step 830 above, the identifier isreceived at content direction device 120 (Step 910). The contentdirection device 120 compares this identifier to the identifierspreviously received in Step 900 (Step 920). If a match is not found, thecontent consumption device 130 is not authorized to stream content fromcontent provider 140. The content direction device 120 thus ignorescontent consumption device 130 and waits for another device to attach tothe local area network 200 (Step 930). However, if a match is found, thecontent direction device 120 automatically instructs the contentprovider 140 to resume the content stream beginning at the previouspause or stop point. Once received, the stream is then forwarded tocontent consumption device 130 (Step 940). Steps 910 and 920 may occurbetween Steps 510 and 520 of FIG. 5, and Step 940 may correspond to Step520 of FIG. 5. That is, the content direction device 120 mayauthenticate content consumption devices 130 as they appear on the localarea network 200, and successful authentication initiates the process ofcueing content at content consumption devices 130.

The foregoing description, for purposes of explanation, used specificnomenclature to provide a thorough understanding of the disclosure.However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the specificdetails are not required to practice the methods and systems of thedisclosure. Thus, the foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments ofthe present invention are presented for purposes of illustration anddescription. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit theinvention to the precise forms disclosed. Many modifications andvariations are possible in view of the above teachings. For example,content playback may be paused and resumed on any user device, at anytime. Consumption endpoints may be forwarded by device 120, ordetermined by either one of device 120 or content provider 140. Contentdirection device 120 may determine the presence of a device 130 byautomatically detecting a new device on its local area network, orreceiving an indicator from the new device. The embodiments were chosenand described in order to best explain the principles of the inventionand its practical applications, to thereby enable others skilled in theart to best utilize the methods and systems of the disclosure andvarious embodiments with various modifications as are suited to theparticular use contemplated. Additionally, different features of thevarious embodiments, disclosed or otherwise, can be mixed and matched orotherwise combined so as to create further embodiments contemplated bythe disclosure.

1. A method for resuming content, the method comprising: receiving, at a content direction device, a consumption endpoint reached during consumption of the content on a first content consumption device; receiving, at the content direction device, an indication that a second content consumption device has transitioned from a state in which the second content consumption device was unable to receive the content to a state in which the second content consumption device is able to receive the content; and in response to the receiving the indication, automatically directing a portion of the content from the content direction device to the second content consumption device, the portion of the content beginning within a range of the consumption endpoint.
 2. The method of claim 1: further comprising transmitting the received consumption endpoint from the content direction device to a content provider; wherein the automatically directing further comprises automatically instructing the content provider to transmit the portion of the content to the content direction device.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the automatically directing further comprises receiving a stream of the portion of the content at the content direction device, and transmitting the received stream from the content direction device to the second content consumption device.
 4. The method of claim 1: further comprising receiving, at the content direction device, an instruction to resume the consumption on a next one of the content consumption devices for which the indication is received; wherein the automatically directing occurs conditionally upon the receiving of the instruction.
 5. The method of claim 1, further comprising: transmitting a close session command so as to close a current content consumption session at a content provider; and in response to the receiving an indication, automatically transmitting a resume session command so as to resume the content consumption session at the content provider; wherein the automatically directing further comprises automatically directing the portion of the content to the second content consumption device from the resumed media consumption session.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the automatically directing and the consumption of the content on the first content consumption device occur during the same content consumption session at a content provider.
 7. The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving a first identifier identifying a content consumption device configured to provide the content for consumption; receiving a second identifier corresponding to the second content consumption device; and comparing the second identifier to the first identifier so as to determine a match therebetween; wherein the automatically directing further comprises automatically directing the portion of the content to the second content consumption device upon determination of the match.
 8. The method of claim 1: wherein the state in which the second content consumption device is unable to receive the content is a power-off state of the second content consumption device; and wherein the state in which the second content consumption device is able to receive the content is a power-on state of the second content consumption device.
 9. The method of claim 1: wherein the state in which the second content consumption device is unable to receive the content is a state in which the second content consumption device has not coupled to a network; and wherein the state in which the second content consumption device is able to receive the content is a state in which the second content consumption device has coupled to a network.
 10. The method of claim 1: wherein the state in which the second content consumption device is unable to receive the content is a state in which the second content consumption device has not yet automatically loaded a content consumption application program; and wherein the state in which the second content consumption device is able to receive the content is a state in which the second content consumption device has automatically loaded the content consumption application program.
 11. The method of claim 1, wherein the portion is a portion of the content beginning at the consumption endpoint and extending sequentially to an end thereof.
 12. The method of claim 1, wherein one of the first content consumption device and the second content consumption device comprises the content direction device.
 13. A system for resuming content, the system comprising: a storage device; and control circuitry configured to: receive a consumption endpoint reached during consumption of the content on a first content consumption device; receive an indication that a second content consumption device has transitioned from a state in which the second content consumption device was unable to receive the content to a state in which the second content consumption device is able to receive the content; and in response to the receiving the indication, automatically direct a portion of the content to the second content consumption device, the portion of the content beginning within a range of the consumption endpoint.
 14. The system of claim 13: wherein the control circuitry is further configured to transmit the received consumption endpoint to a content provider; and wherein the control circuitry is further configured to automatically direct the portion of the content by automatically instructing the content provider to transmit the portion of the content thereto.
 15. The system of claim 14, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to automatically direct the portion of the content by receiving a stream of the portion of the content, and transmitting the received stream to the second content consumption device.
 16. The system of claim 13: wherein the control circuitry is further configured to receive an instruction to resume the consumption on a next one of the content consumption devices for which the indication is received; and wherein the control circuitry is further configured to automatically direct the portion of the content conditionally upon the receiving of the instruction.
 17. The system of claim 13, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to: transmit a close session command so as to close a current content consumption session at a content provider; and in response to the receiving the indication, automatically transmit a resume session command so as to resume the content consumption session at the content provider; wherein the control circuitry is further configured to automatically direct the portion of the content by automatically directing the portion of the content to the second content consumption device from the resumed media consumption session.
 18. The system of claim 13, wherein the automatically directing and the consumption of the content on the first content consumption device occur during the same content consumption session at a content provider.
 19. The system of claim 13, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to: receive a first identifier identifying a content consumption device configured to provide the content for consumption; receive a second identifier corresponding to the second content consumption device; and compare the second identifier to the first identifier so as to determine a match therebetween; wherein the control circuitry is further configured to automatically direct the portion of the content by automatically directing the portion of the content to the second content consumption device upon determination of the match.
 20. The system of claim 13: wherein the state in which the second content consumption device is unable to receive the content is a power-off state of the second content consumption device; and wherein the state in which the second content consumption device is able to receive the content is a power-on state of the second content consumption device. 21-36. (canceled) 